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     A History of Personal Service

Ron Bray was born near Withiel, (where his ancestors can be traced back to the 1700's), and when he was 3 years old, he moved with his family into Bodmin. These early years of his life gave him his first insight into the funeral profession, as Ron’s father Sid began to work for the local funeral directors G N Thomas & Son, at evenings and weekends. During World War 2, Ron was fortunate to be in Wadebridge, visiting his grandmother, when his neighbourhood was destoyed by 2 German bombers, killing 9, and injuring 18. Among the fatalities, 8 were from a neighbouring family to Ron, the Sargent family. 

When Ron was in his 20’s, he moved to Wadebridge. Then, in November 1981, after years of assisting in the funeral profession, both with W A Hawkey & Son (who, along with their garage business, were carriage masters) and local undertaker Percy Bennetts, he, along with his wife Jean, took over the long established Funeral Directors W T Williams & Son. Coincidentally, their premises were those where Ron had worked at Hawkeys, many years before, at Bridge End. They were joined in 1983 by their son David. Since then David’s wife Beth has joined the team, followed by the third generation - James, Daisy and Lily.

 

 

 

 

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Carrying on the family tradition is a way of life for us, and we know all of the local traditions because we have served this community for generations, and we pride ourselves that the service we provide will be personal, professional and respectful in every way, from your first contact with us, to the final resting place of your loved one. We know, from experience, that it is comforting to know your funeral director. We offer a varied range of funerals. Each funeral is as unique as the life it celebrates.

We are able to arrange a service for any denomination or, if wished, a non religious funeral. We can help make the funeral a truly personal occasion, whether it be a traditional or modern service. We are proud of our Cornish heritage and, quite often the bearers still carry the coffin into church ‘the Cornish way’, using carrying poles, (in most parts of Cornwall, the coffin was never carried on the shoulder), this makes it much easier if members of the family or friends wish to be bearers.

David, with Ron, conducting the funeral of Mr E.E. (Tony) Morton-Nance (Bard of the Cornish Gorseth) in Trevone, nr Padstow, July 2002. Photo courtesy of Neil Lindsay Photography.

We can also offer the of use of our Service Chapel, which will seat up to 80 people, and also our Function Room, with different options available for catering.

We have our own fleet of hearses and limousine, or, if preferred, we can arrange for a horse drawn, motorcycle, trike, or even VW split screen hearse. We offer a wide choice of coffins, from veneered and solid oak through to sea grass, wicker, cane or custom picture coffins.

We can help arrange newspaper announcements, floral tributes, printing Orders of Service, as well as giving advice on registration. We receive donations in lieu of flowers, either being sent direct to us, or via our online facility.